Saturday, July 20, 2013

Rae Dawn Chong has good and bad things to say about Oprah, Actress Rae Dawn Chong hasn’t been in the public eye much lately, but that changed in a flash when tmz.com got a hold of a June 27 interview she did for Matt P’s Radio Happy Hour.

Chong had plenty to say about Oprah Winfrey, her costar in 1985’s “The Color Purple.”

The daughter of actor-comedian Tommy Chong first called Ms. Winfrey “amazing,” and said “she’s done great things for women of color, women of a certain size. I think she’s an icon.”

She went on to call her a brownnoser, describing her during the time they worked together this way: “She was that fat chick that was the ... wannabe cheerleader that was the student council president that was best friends with the principal. ... She was that fat chick in school that did everything and everybody loved her. That’s Oprah — love me, love me, love me.”

Chong flipped between compliments and insults a few more times during the interview, describing Winfrey as vile and boring, but also calling her a miracle because “she shifted the DNA in terms of our thinking of a woman of a certain size and a certain shape.”

She also used the n-word in her interview, but did not direct it specifically at Winfrey.

Later Friday, Chong posted a video of a sort of apology, particularly for using such an offensive word.

In the less-than-90-second video, she sarcastically thanked TMZ for only reporting parts of the interview.

“Maybe some people say I have a big mouth ... and it’s just too bad. So, I’m in pain about it, too, because taken out of context, it sounds really bad. In context, I was actually complimenting Oprah. And that’s all I got to say about it.”

Michael Moore divorcingThe Web was buzzing Friday with the news that director Michael Moore, 59, has filed for divorce from Kathleen Glynn, 55.

The petition for divorce — filed June 17 in Antrim County, near the couple’s Torch Lake home — states that the couple has no children and has not been living together of late.

Glynn produced several of Moore’s films, including “Bowling for Columbine,” “Sicko” and “Fahrenheit 9/11.”

Moore’s complaint seeks a temporary order and judgment dissolving the marriage and restraining both parties from selling or transferring the couple’s assets to others, including stocks, bonds, limited liability companies, real estate, household furniture and works of fine art.

Moore and Glynn, both Flint natives, have been married since October 1991.

'Millionaire' auditions next weekOpen auditions for “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” will be held Friday at Walsh College, Novi Campus (41500 Gardenbrook Road, Novi).

Contestant auditions consist of a timed multiple choice test. For those people who pass, an interview with one of the show’s producers will follow.

Two audition sessions will be held: The first session will start at 7 a.m., with tests being given through 10 a.m. The second session will begin at 5 p.m., and will continue through 7 p.m.

The last session of the day will begin promptly at 7 p.m. and will test contestants exclusively for “Movie Week,” a specialty series featuring film buffs answering movie-themed trivia.

An all new season of “Millionaire” with host Cedric the Entertainer will premiere on WWJ-TV (Channel 62) at noon Sept. 2.

Briefly“Veep” actress Anna Chlumsky welcomed daughter Penelope Joan on July 11, it was reported Thursday. This is the first child for the “My Girl” star and her entrepreneur husband Shaun So, who have been married since 2008.

t. Martin’s Press announced Friday that Jackie Collins’ “Confessions of a Wild Child” will come out in February 2014. The book is a prequel to her best-selling series. Lucky, the daughter of former gangster Gino Santangelo, is 15 and ready to break out from the protected world Gino has kept her in.

Collins introduced the Santangelos more than 30 years ago in “Chances.”

British actor Paul Bhattacharjee, who has appeared in films including “Casino Royale” and “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” was found dead in East Sussex after going missing for several days, the BBC reported Friday.

Bhattacharjee, 53, was last seen leaving the Royal Court theatre in London’s Sloane Square on July 10. The London-born actor was found at Splash Point cliffs in Seaford, East Sussex, on July 12. Police said his death was not being treated as suspicious.

Bhattacharjee was due to appear in this week’s play “Talk Show” at the Royal Court in London. His role in the play has been recast.